The 39-year-old made his 208th and final international appearance in front of around 85,000 supporters at the Estadio Monumental, at an event billed as “The Last Tango”. He wiped away tears on the team bus, walked onto the pitch with his three children and saw a giant shirt reading “Gracias” laid out in front of him.
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His wife Antonela Roccuzzo and mother Celia Cuccittini watched from a VIP box. Play was paused in the 10th minute, in tribute to his shirt number, for a minute-long ovation. Messi then set up Nicolás Otamendi’s opening goal and converted a penalty in the 71st minute, his 126th for his country.
Minute 10 tribute for Lionel Messi. 🔟🩵🤍 https://t.co/vUcKILVznI
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 6, 2026
He had explained his decision when he announced his retirement in August, weeks after Argentina’s World Cup final defeat to Spain. “I gave it my all; I have nothing left to give,” he wrote, adding that there were “great young players coming up who deserve their chance.”
Before kick-off, the University of Buenos Aires awarded him an honorary doctorate at the Argentine Football Association’s headquarters. Messi has said in the past that he regrets not studying more, and he could not resist a joke. “To be able to say that I am an honorary doctor!” he said.
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Tributes arrived from across football. His former Barcelona team-mate Neymar wrote on X that it was not only Argentina that owed him thanks, because “the world thanks you for everything you did for football”. He added: “Thank you for making me love football even more.”
Quem ama futebol te aproveitou ao longo desses anos…
Hoje é seu ultimo jogo com a camisa da tua seleção, do teu país e eu espero que você curta cada segundo, que todas as homenagens hoje te façam feliz.
Não é só Argentina que te agradece, o mundo agradece por tudo que fez ao futebol.
Obrigado por me fazer amar ainda mais o futebol, foi uma honra ter jogado contra você e mais ainda fazer história ao seu lado.
GRACIAS Leo Messi 🐐— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) October 6, 2026
Supporters were just as generous. Outside the AFA, fans unfurled a huge flag carrying his image and the words “The joy of my life”. Cecilia Adriano, 52, saidshe had no problem with Messi leaving, saying he “gave everything, absolutely everything” and “has more than earned it”.
REPORT: One goal, two assists – Messi signs off for Argentina in style
At the final whistle, a drone show lit up the sky above the stadium with his image.
Messi leaves as Argentina’s record appearance holder and top scorer, with the 2022 World Cup and the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles to his name. He remains under contract with Inter Miami until 2028.
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– AFP
Photo: Tobias Skarlovnik/Getty Images
